Zachman employs models and viewpoints for the different elements forming part of the enterprise architecture in two dimensions: participant viewpoints or models, and key issues or viewpoints.

The Zachman framework is basically used for the implementation of an Enterprise Architecture in firms, assuming the same framework for any company, large or small. It therefore needs to apply architecture concepts independently of the characteristics of the firm concerned.

The tasks of Enterprise Architecture definition and implementation in Zachman are undertaken from the standpoint of the different profiles, roles and skills needed for the process, laying particular stress on the problems of communication and understanding that may arise between profiles.

As a part of the definition and implementation of enterprise architectures, Zachman facilitates consensus and understanding by structuring viewpoints, concepts and artifacts (i.e. outputs or elements obtained from the architecture process).

This understanding is obtained in a straightforward and intuitive manner. Zachman defines the following questions, which must be answered by each profile in order to define the complete Architecture:

• What? Data, relationships and meanings
• How? Corporate processes and functions
• Where? Network, technologies, distribution and localization of processes, functions and systems
• Who? The people forming the company, considering issues from security and roles to corporate organization and existing workflows
• When? Timing (represented by cycles), process structures, controls and business events
• Why? The motives driving different segments of the company: business objectives, strategic plans, design and specification of rules, etc.

These viewpoints are considered from the standpoint of the framework in different models, providing a complete view of the Enterprise Architecture while handling different artifacts depending on the coordinates represented in the following chart.

Zachman's Architecture Framework (Source: http://www.zifa.com)

The models established in Zachman allow the adaptation of the information defining the architecture to the appropriate audience, cross-referencing other viewpoints. Each model is related with a given profile within the firm, as shown below:

• Scope: Visionary or Planning profile
• Business: Proprietary profile
• System: Designer profile
• Technology: Constructor profile
• Detailed Representation: execution profile (Contractor)
• Component set-up: Implementer profile
• Functional areas of the firm: Employee profile

What are the benefits?

The main benefits of applying the Zachman Framework to the definition and implementation of Enterprise Architectures are as follows:

Simplicity
The definition of the framework is based on a single outline representing the viewpoints and layers to be taken into account in the definition of the architecture. This simplifies understanding of the working framework, expectations and assessment of the effort to adapt to a given context.

Above and beyond simplicity, however, the completeness of the framework makes it possible to go down to a level of detail and complexity comparable to that of architecture frameworks aimed at the Defense and Finance industries. In fact, each of the perspectives resulting from the intersections in the layers and viewpoints matrix can be described at three levels of detail.

The Zachman framework is considered the most straightforward Enterprise Architecture, given its simplicity and ease of understanding.

Flexibility
The Zachman framework leaves doors open to the interpretation and execution of the different artifacts and activities required as part of the construction of the Enterprise Architecture. This allows each firm, in whatever context, to adapt the framework to its own needs and capabilities. Both the artifacts and the representations obtained in each viewpoint and definitional layer are capable of adaptation.

Standardization and adaptability
Zachman is considered a de facto Enterprise Architecture standard and has become an industry benchmark. Many other architecture frameworks are compatible or can be integrated with Zachman, because it has been so widely implemented.

Using the Zachman framework together with others such as TOGAF increase the coverage of needs in Enterprise Architecture. Zachman is more mature and horizontal than other EA frameworks, and it is therefore an ideal framework to establish the basis for the additional use of other working methodologies and frameworks.

o single EA framework covers all areas of definition and cover, but bringing together more than one can incrementally improve general completeness.

Enterprise Architecture framework comparative (Source: Evaluation of Current Architecture Frameworks, Susanne Leist Gregor Zellner, University of Regensburg, 2006.)

As well as integrating with other frameworks, various guidelines exist for the integration and adaptation of Zachman with other methodologies and standards such as RUP and UML, allowing a beginning-to-end process in the implementation and definition of enterprise architectures.